We have multiple abstracts accepted for the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology’s (USCAP) 114th Annual Meeting, March 22-27, 2025, in Boston, Massachusetts.  Excellent work, everyone!

• Drs. Katie Bussing and Justin Rueckert titled “Death Certification Errors and Utilization of the Autopsy Report”
• Drs. Jing Di and Therese Bocklage titled “AI Predicting LN Met in Tongue SCC”
• Drs. Mohamed Hussein, Julie Dueber, Derek Allison and Therese Bocklage titled “Adenoid Cystic Carcinomas with Amplification of KDR, KIT and PDGFRA: Histologic Features and Comprehensive Molecular Genetic Findings”

Derek Allison, MD, has accepted an invitation to Co-Chair a workshop for the International Congress of Cytology (ICC) meeting in Florence, Italy in May, 2025.  He will also present a session on rare finding in renal mass biopsies.  The ICC only occurs every three years and the criteria established at this congress is used daily around the world.  Great work Dr. Allison!

Jing Di, MD, (first author), Sainan Wei, MD, PhD, (senior author), Talal Arshad, MBBS, and Leo Yenwongfai, MD, collaborated on a recent publication in the journal Biomedicines titled “Prognostic Significance and Treatment Response Associations of Genetic Mutations in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: A Retrospective Cohort Study”.  A PDF of the article is attached.  This article was a collaboration with clinicians from the Division of Cancer Biostatistics, Markey Cancer Center, the Division of Hematology, and the Kentucky Cancer Registry here at UK.  Together, they explored genetic markers in patients with CMML at the University of Kentucky, and their findings highlight the need for personalized treatments for this unique group of patients.  Excellent work everyone!

Justin Miller, PhD, (senior author), Cody Bumgardner, PhD, and Shulin Zhang, MD, PhD, with Kate Sears, PhD, (first author), Caylin Hickey, Ryan Vincent, Jennifer Stocks-Candelaria, and Jason Tate collaborated on a recently published article in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics titled “Establishing a Variant Allele Frequency Cutoff for Manual Curation of Medical Exome Sequencing Data”. 

Peter Nelson, MD, PhD, is the sole author and senior author on three recent publications in the journals Brain, Brain Pathology, and the Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology.  See below for specifics.  Great work Dr. Nelson!

• “New criteria to predict LATE-NC in the clinical setting: Probable/Possible LATE and LANS”.  Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39441698/ (Sole author)
• “Nicorandil treatment improves survival and spatial learning in aged granulin knockout mice”.  Brain Pathology - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39438022/ (Senior author)
• “Amyloid-β predominant Alzheimer's disease neuropathologic change”.  Brain - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39417691/ (Senior author)

William O’Connor, MD, Asma Arshia, MBBS, Katie Bussing, MD, and Jaan Maaza, MD, participated in the recent UK HealthCare Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network Annual Conference on November 6, 2024.  Dr. O’Connor was a featured speaker and presented “What's Under the Microscope: A Pathologist's Guide to Heart Disease”, while Drs. Arshia, Bussing, and Maaza presented pathologic hearts during the event.  See the attached picture from the event.  Excellent work everyone!

Shulin Zhang, MD, PhD, is a co-author of a recent publication in the journal PROTEINS: Structure, Function, Bioinformatics titled "L858R/L718Q and L858R/L792H Mutations of EGFR Inducing Resistance Against Osimertinib by Forming Additional Hydrogen Bonds".  This article was a collaboration with clinicians and faculty from the Markey Cancer Center and the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, the Division of Biomedical Informatics, and the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry here at UK.  See this link for specifics https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39494831/  Congratulations, Dr. Zhang and colleagues!

Derek Allison, MD, has been asked to guest edit a special issue of Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology titled “Molecular Advances in Surgical Pathology:  Tumor-Specific Insights and Updates”.  Great work, Dr. Allison!

Cody Bumgardner, PhD, has been appointed by the College of Medicine as the assistant dean for artificial intelligence and data science.  Congratulations, Dr. Bumgardner!

Jing Di, MD, (first author), Therese Bocklage, MD, (senior author), Ali Alhaidary, MD, and Sainan Wei, MD, PhD, collaborated on a recent publication in the journal Biomedicines titled “NSD3::NUTM1 Fusion Sarcoma Mimicking Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor with Prolonged Survival”.  This article was in association with clinicians from the division of cancer biostatistics, Markey Cancer Center, and UK ENT. Excellent work, everyone!

Jeong Do, MD, has accepted a fellowship in Dermatopathology at New York University for the 2026-27 academic year.  Congratulations, Dr. Do!

Hafsa Nebbache, MD, has been very busy.  Through the CAP, she and two colleagues recently released a podcast titled “Bridging the Gap: Tips for Effective Pathologist-Clinician Communication”. In addition, Dr. Nebbache has been selected as one of 14 trainees for the GME Emerging Leaders Program. Excellent work, Dr. Nebbache!

Peter Nelson, MD, PhD, is featured in a recent UKNow story titled “Bridging gaps:  UK researchers apply cancer insights to advance Alzheimer’s therapies”.  Great work, Dr. Nelson!

Justin Rueckert, DO, has shared that the Pathology Medical Student Interest Group has been awarded a $500 competitive grant by the Intersociety Council for Pathology Information (ICPI).  The group has been invited to the annual virtual forum on Nov. 13, 2024, to give a presentation highlighting their uses for the grant funding.  The group is determining how they will utilize the funds. Congratulations Dr. Rueckert and students!

Derek Allison, MD, is a co-investigator on a newly funded grant from the national Heart Lung and Blood Institute titled “Targeting Lung Fibrosis Using Epigenetic Therapy”.  This grant is a collaboration with the departments of toxicology and cancer biology, internal medicine, microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics, physiology, and the Markey-McDowell Cancer Network.  Christine Brainson, PhD, associate professor of toxicology and caner biology, is the PI.  Excellent work Dr. Allison!

Cody Bumgardner, PhD, is the PI on a newly funded grant from Lextran Foundation Incorporated titled “UK Evaluation of Lextran’s Accelerating Innovative Mobility (AIM) Program”. Congratulations, Dr. Bumgardner!

Mohamed Hussein, MD, is first author of a recently published article in the journal Metabolites.  The article titled “Comparison of Adiposomal Lipids between Obese and Non-Obese Individuals” is a collaboration with physicians from the University of Illinois, Chicago College of Medicine and can be found at this link.  Excellent work Dr. Hussein!

Wael Ibrahim, MD, Dennis Williams, MD, and Aaron Shmookler, MD, collaborated on an abstract that has been accepted for presentation at the AABB Annual Meeting in Oct. 2024 in Houston, Tx.  The title is “Anti-D Alloimmunization Rate Following the Transfusion of RhD-Positive Apheresis Platelets to RhD-Negative Patients: A Retrospective Study”. Great work, everyone!

Eun Lee, MD, is a co-investigator on a newly funded grant from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance titled “Developing New Therapeutic Approaches for BRAFV600E Colorectal Cancer”.  This grant is a collaboration with the department of toxicology and cancer biology and the Markey-McDowell Cancer Network.  Yekaterina Zaytseva, PhD, associate professor of toxicology and cancer biology, is the PI. Excellent work Dr. Lee!

Rob Maynard, PhD has been busy!  First, he has been invited to record a podcast episode for the journal Clinical Chemistry.  The topic will be “Personalized Reproductive Hormone Monitoring in Sweat” and will be available at the link.  Second, he has been selected to give an oral presentation at the 2024 International CPOCT Symposium in San Diego, Calif. from Sept. 25-27, 2024.  His topic will be “Evaluation of Hemolysis Rates in Adult and Pediatric Whole Blood Specimens at the Point of Care”. Congratulations, Dr. Maynard!

Hafsa Nebbache, MD, has accepted a fellowship in Breast Pathology from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA to begin July 2026.  This will follow her Cytopathology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Congratulations, Dr. Nebbache!

William O’Connor, MD, (first author) and Asma Arshia, MD, (co-author) recently published a case report in European Heart Journal Case Reports titled “Nuclear envelope lamin-related dilated cardiomyopathy: a case series including histopathology”.  The report can be accessed here and is a collaboration with UK Cardiology. Congratulations Drs. O’Connor and Arshia!

Dava Piecoro, MD, is a co-investigator on a recently funded CCSG Pilot Grant from the National Cancer Institute titled “The Role of Calpain-5 in Endometrial Cancer”.  This is a collaboration with the departments of radiation medicine, toxicology and cancer biology, and the  Markey-McDowell Cancer Network. Congratulations, Dr. Piecoro!

Justin Rueckert, MD, is very busy!  First, he has been asked to join a panel discussion for Schwartz Rounds (a multidisciplinary forum where clinical caregivers discuss social and emotional issues) on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 from Noon-1 p.m. in CTW014 Wethington Bldg).  The topic of discussion will be “Care, After the End” and he will be joined by Jeremy Garbat-Welch, M.Div. and Vicky Kaak, RN.  Lunch will be served and all are welcome to attend. Second, he has been appointed by the Office of Medical Education to the roles of Pathology Thread Leader and Histology Thread Leader.  These roles involve coordination of foundational science topics throughout the undergraduate medical curriculum and will involve collaboration with course directors, course faculty, clerkship directors, and OME leadership. Good luck Dr. Rueckert!

Dr. Aaron Shmookler is co-author on a recent publication in the journal Transfusion Medicine Reviews.  The article is titled “RhD-Alloimmunization in Adult and Pediatric Trauma Patients” and is a collaboration with researchers from around the country and internationally.  Excellent work. Dr. Shmookler!

Sainan Wei, MD, PhD, is first author on a book chapter (Chapter 5: Ring Chromosome 1) in Human Ring Chromosomes:  A Practical Guide for Clinicians and Families. Great work. Dr. Wei!  

Our Pathology Residency Orientation was recently featured in the “GME PC Newsletter” in August, 2024!  Leanna and Drs. McDonald and Neltner have worked hard to revamp the orientation to provide the most successful start to the pathology residency program. Excellent recognition everyone!    

One of the latest editions of UKNow featured an excellent article and video about blood donations and the blood banking process.  The article titled ”‘Life or death’: The impact of blood donations across UK HealthCare” can be seen at this link and features our own Dr. Aaron Shmookler.